One of my favorite weekends each year is the trip to Tracey Cannon's San Diego condo. I'm on my best behavior, hoping to be invited again. The 2018 troupe included nine old friends--Pam Cole, Robin Kimball, Julie Grow, Virginia Walker, Bobby Casper, Tracey, Janie Rogers, Julie Monson, and Robyn Petty. We spent from Thursday, October 25, 2018, until Monday, October 27, 2018, with Tracey in San Diego.
There are always two groups--the early risers and the late snoozers. Dave is amazed that I align myself with the early risers, but in my top bunk in the open loft, I hear everything, see everything, and am up by 5, if not 4! That's the way I like it, though, so I can fill my day full to brimming with the delights of old friends and San Diego. During our Friday through Monday visit, I made three trips to the beach, including two early morning walks. On Friday morning, Bobby Casper, Robyn Petty, and I strolled the mile to the beach, picking up giant pine cones and admiring the subtropical flowers along the way.
Surfers in wet suits were already riding the waves when we arrived.
On Friday afternoon, we took a tour of the $60 million Stuart Collection at UC-San Diego. The best-known art piece is "Fallen Star", a miniature house perched on top of the Engineering Building. The Korean-born sculptor of "Fallen Star" said that moving to America challenged his ideas of "home"; he sometimes felt as alien as if he had fallen from a distant star.
The assistant curator briefed us on the art works and then led us around campus to see them.
Another favorite sculpture is the teddy bear made from California boulders. We saw its prototype in the curator's office.
I deeply admire each of the women whom Tracey invited. Pam Cole is a very capable mother of six who is also the soul of humility--very sweet and unassuming despite the many challenges of her life. Humility has never been one of my strengths, and I admire it in others.
It was a special treat to spend time with my much-loved second cousin, Julie Grow, after not seeing her for several years. Julie has always been a talented leader of women, not only as the mother of six or seven daughters, but as a Young Women president with whom I served in our Church, and now as a Relief Society president. We talked and talked and talked.
When this limestone teddy bear was first erected next to the Engineering Building, the engineers were offended, as if their technical skills were being minimized. They later adopted the teddy bear as their mascot, seeing it as a symbol of the scientific skills that can turn building materials into art.
This quotation by Emerson was incorporated into another University artwork.
It was a treat to have such a knowledgeable guide.
And, finally, we entered the "Fallen Star" on top of the Engineering Building.
Everything was at odd angles, emphasizing the feelings of discomfort and unrest in getting used to a new home.
On Saturday morning we attended a session of the San Diego Temple. It was sweet to share that spiritual experience with good friends.
But back to material things--we stopped by the discount DSW store on our way home to check out its huge selection of shoes and boots and bags.
The Nine Ladies were champion shoppers, more aggressive in their pursuit of The Bargain than I typically am while on vacation. I did find some treasures for my Christmas table at the Leaping Lizards consignment mall, and I also fell in love with a Native American inlaid bear pendant at a Seaport boutique.
That very evening, Dave called from his trip to Moab, Utah, to tell me that he had bought me a bear pendant that he hoped I'd like. Our minds are attuned after 48 years of marriage--the bear pendant Dave chose was similar to but even more beautiful than the one I'd fallen in love with at Seaport!
On Saturday afternoon, we walked the beach at La Jolla Shores.
We passed an artist, photographing her artwork in the sand.
We caught Tracey's enthusiasm for San Diego. Tracey is a successful Utah real estate developer, and her trips to Southern California give her a chance to relax from her stressful career.
Janie Rogers is an artist, with a beautiful and valuable collection of Utah paintings. Her husband, Ed, recently died, and we were lucky that Janie felt up to spending a weekend with "the girls." Janie is reserved, but has fascinating talents and interests when you get to know her, including a special interest in Chinese art.
During our San Diego stay, we wandered the shops of both Seaport and Old Town, visiting artisans like this candle maker.
Old Town was covered with decorations for the Mexican Day of the Dead, and a band sang in Spanish.
We spent Sunday, after Church, at Balboa Park. Robyn Petty and Julie Monson checked out the craft stalls. Both Robyn and Julie are good friends of mine, as is Robin Kimball, another dear friend whom I haven't seen lately.
Julie Grow and I wandered through the Japanese Gardens.
We spent an hour or more in the art museum, enjoying paintings by Old Masters like this common relative of Julie Grow and me--the 18th century English portrait painter, George Romney.
These statues are of my favorite Spanish painters--Velasquez, Murillo, and Zurburan.
We lingered in Balboa Park as night fell. This 15-year-old Latin beauty is dressed for her quincineria, or party celebrating her approaching womanhood.
The colored lights on the Spanish colonial buildings of Balboa park created a magical scene.
And the true colors of the sunset were even more magical yet!
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